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General Orthodontic Information Appointments Your first appointment with Dr. Ma is the initial consultation. He will perform a brief clinical exam and review with you what type of orthodontic treatment you may require. Part of the discussion will include the amount of time in treatment and possible costs involved. These initial appointments and the appointment to place orthodontic appliances are lengthy and are often scheduled in the morning and early afternoon. Once all the appliances are placed shorter adjustment appointments are scheduled every four to six weeks. Whenever possible the shorter appointments will be scheduled out of school or work hours. However, we will not always be able to accommodate you although we shall try our best to do so. Patients will not be seen on a “walk-in” basis. If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, it is important that you give us as much notice as possible for us to reschedule the visit. Patients arriving late may be rescheduled in fairness to other scheduled patients arriving on time for their appointments. Late patients can wait for an opening in the schedule, but this may not happen until the end of the day. Rescheduling patients for whatever reason will be at the first available time. If we have to reschedule an after-school appointment, it may need to be rescheduled during school hours. Missed appointments prolong treatment and increase the likelihood of complications. Your understanding in the matter of appointments is greatly appreciated. If it seems as though we are inflexible and unable to coordinated a particular appointment with your schedule, please remember that we are trying very hard to be on time and fair to all our patients. Extractions Some patients require extraction of permanent teeth to alleviate crowding in jaws or to compensate for any previously missing teeth. This may seem counter to the efforts of the dental profession to save healthy teeth, but this approach is recommended only in those cases where a non-extraction approach would lead to a less than optimal result. Extractions are performed by your general dentist or oral surgeon. Regular Dental Care and Oral Hygiene During orthodontic treatment, regular visits to the general dentist should be continued. Semi-annual examinations, cleanings and fluoride treatment are a must. Oral hygiene is extremely important before, during and after the course of orthodontic treatment. Prior to treatment, a thorough check-up for cavities and periodontal disease should be performed by your general dentist. Any active cavities or periodontal disease needs to be eliminated before initiating treatment. During treatment orthodontic appliances tend to trap food particles, holding them against the teeth and gums. This can promote tooth decay, etching of the teeth(permanent marking from decalcification) and swollen, bleeding gums. Swollem gum tissue, resulting from poor brushing can slow down tooth movement. The patient must take an active part in preventing these problems. Excellent oral hygiene is essential and careful instructions will be given to teach you how to clean your teeth under these special circumstances. Sugars and snacks will have to be eliminated or carefully controlled. Orthodontic Emergencies Retainers Teeth change position constantly in all individuals, regardless of whether they have had orthodontic treatment or not. After treatment, teeth have a tendency to rebound to their original position. This is called “relapse” and it is controlled by the use of retainers after active treatment is completed. Retainers are worn 24 hours per day at first and wearing time is gradually reduced, usually over a period of years. The most common area for relapse is the lower front teeth, especially in patients with severe crowding problems prior to treatment. Some cases require the use of retainers for an indefinite period of time to prevent relapse. If the retainer is not worn as directed, your orthodontist cannot assume responsibility for undesirable tooth movement. Cooperation Orthodontic treatment is not something “done to” a patient. The patient plays a very active role in the treatment process. Successful treatment within a minimum period of time usually involves cooperative and motivated patients and parents. A lack of cooperation will prolong treatment time and in many cases, make treatment goals impossible to achieve. Patients and parents will be asked to cooperate in the following areas:
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Once
you have decided to proceed with orthodontic treatment based on Dr. Ma’s
recommendations orthodontic records are required. Records are a series
of photographs, radiographs and impressions of your teeth. With these
records a final treatment plan is formulated and presented in detail to
you at a subsequent appointment.
Orthodontic
emergencies are best avoided by not biting on hard things such as ice
cubes, bones or pencils. Eating sticky foods like toffee or gummies can
also potentially break or bend the brackets, bands or wires. If there
is a breakage please call us ahead of time so that we are able to reschedule
adequate time to correct the problem. If unplanned repairs are necessary,
we may need to reschedule you for extra time needed so that the next appointed
patients are seen at their scheduled time. Breakage of appliances that
results in pain will be considered an emergency and will be dealt with
as quickly as possible. Patients should call the office immediately for
an emergency appointment. Consistent abuse and breakage of appliances
will negatively affect treatment, prolong treatment time and may lead
to additional costs.